The Old Town Music Hall located at 140 Richmond St. in El Segundo, CA. Originally built in 1921, this quaint 176 seat theater has been showing vintage silent and sound films, and presenting live concerts by some of the world’s finest performers of jazz, ragtime, and popular music from the past since 1968. In addition to our regular accompanists, some of our silent films will be accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer, a massive 1925 wind-powered pipe organ that has been meticulously preserved so that silent classics can be experienced with live musical accompaniment, just as they did when they were first shown. If you have never visited, you are in for a treat as it is a truly magical place.

HISTORY OF OLD TOWN MUSIC HALL
Old Town Music Hall began in the 1960’s when two musicians, Bill Coffman and Bill Field, purchased the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ from the Fox West Theater in Long Beach, CA, and installed it in the quaint 188-seat El Segundo State Theater, originally built in 1921.

The “Two Bills” opened their doors in 1968, and to this day the Old Town Music Hall continues to entertain audiences with silent and sound films, as well as ragtime, jazz and pipe organ concerts. All silent feature films are accompanied live by the Mighty Wurlitzer, just as they were when originally released.

The Mighty Wurlitzer consists of more than 2,600 pipes. The organ console has four keyboards, 260 switches, and an array of controls and pedals. From the console, the organist controls the pipes and many percussive instruments, such as a xylophone, marimba, piano, drums, and cymbals. The entire system is air-powered by a 10-horsepower Spencer Turbine Orgoblo. This powerful source of wind pressure runs the entire mechanical system and also plays the pipes. Needless to say, the organ requires constant maintenance.

On stage with the organ console is a spectacular 9-foot concert grand piano. The 92-note Bösendorfer was handmade in Vienna for the Old Town Music Hall in 1974. The Bösendorfer company has been making pianos since 1828 and is perhaps the finest acoustic keyboard instrument made.

Old Town Music Hall is a treasured cultural landmark. It is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and relies upon continued support from its patrons and friends. Programs at the Music Hall not only preserve cultural heritage, but they also provide unique entertainment and good old-fashioned American family fun.